The Rye City Board of Education released an online survey for its superintendent search Monday, hoping for feedback on the school district’s quality of education, staff, and traits valued in a new school head.
The survey, created by the board-hired search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA), asks respondents to anonymously answer all questions to the best of their ability so the information can help determine the desired characteristics of the district’s next top administrator.
“Your school district is interested in your input … to gather your perceptions of the school district and the importance of various characteristics found in effective superintendents,” the survey begins.
It asks respondents to rate the overall quality of education in the Rye school district, from unsatisfactory to excellent.
The survey then presents 19 statements and asks respondents to answer each one with their level of agreement, ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree. It includes affirmations like the district is “heading in the right direction” and its “schools are safe,” to “technology is integrated into the classroom,” “employees are held accountable,” and the district is engaged with “diverse racial, cultural, and socio-economic groups.”
Respondents are also prompted to select up to four of 12 characteristics they would like to see in a new superintendent — one who provides “transparent communication” and is “visible throughout the district,” to someone who effectively manages the “day-to-day operations,” fosters a “positive, professional climate of mutual trust and respect,” and provides a “compelling vision for the future,” to name a few.
Finally, there is an option to add comments on desired traits and even recommend superintendent candidates.
The questionnaire, which is confidential, will remain open until Jan. 22.
The results will be used to help develop a “leadership profile” — a detailed list of the qualities the community seeks in its next superintendent.
“We value your input as a key component in the development of the search specifications used to create a Leadership Profile,” the board said in a Jan. 6 letter to the community. “The Leadership Profile will be a guiding framework for recruiting and vetting candidates.”
The survey marks the board’s first step in engaging the community as part of its superintendent search, which officially began in December with the hiring of HYA under a $26,800 contract.
Schools Superintendent Eric Byrne announced his retirement in late October. He plans to finish out the school year before stepping down this June.
HYA was picked over four other search firms to help find Byrne’s successor. HYA, which guided the process for hiring Byrne in 2017, has faced some backlash over the last decade for controversial picks in other school districts.
Two community forums aimed at gathering additional input are scheduled for Jan. 14 at 9:30 a.m. in the Milton School Auditorium and Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. via Zoom.
The board will continue to share updates with the community on the superintendent search page of the school’s district website.